Nolan denies Hammers in final minute

George McCartney opened the scoring in the 19th minute from Matthew Upson's flick-on, his first goal for West Ham, and it looked like another defeat for Megson.

But Danny Guthrie and Kevin Davies both hit the woodwork for the visitors, and Nolan struck at the death.

Megson is understood to have won around the dressing room with a stirring speech on his day on the job and it will need more resilience like this to escape the drop, particularly with Nicolas Anelka out injured at the moment with a hamstring complaint.

It is still more than two months since they tasted a league victory, and they have Liverpool and Manchester United coming up soon.

He knew a first win as Bolton boss would have taken his new club to 15th in the table, nosebleed territory after one league win all season.

Anelka's absence took away their unpredictability in attack and they punted balls forward for Kevin Davies to win in the West Ham penalty area.

Although Ivan Campo shaved the post with an early free-kick, it was the hosts who appeared the more confident, despite their lengthy list of injuries.

Mark Noble had a groin strain and Anton Ferdinand a hamstring problem, adding themselves to a treatment room already containing the likes of Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker.

The players remaining quickly imposed themselves on Bolton, Matthew Etherington and Nolberto Solano causing panic with dangerous deliveries.

Lee Bowyer appeared to have wasted a glorious chance in the 12th minute when Carlton Cole headed into his path and he fired wide with the goalkeeper to beat, but the flag was up anyway.

Etherington then got behind the Bolton defence when he outpaced Andy O'Brien but his low cross was cut out by Abdoulaye Meite, with the ball spinning to safety.

The opener came in the 19th minute after Bolton failed to clear a Solano corner.

Matthew Upson had an effort cleared off the line, then flicked on when the ball was crossed back in, and McCartney produced an acrobatic volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It was the defender's first goal in West Ham colours - but he was required for his usual defensive duties two minutes later when El-Hadji Diouf was found on the edge of the area.

The controversial forward, jeered for an alleged spitting incident with West Ham fans earlier in his career, wriggled past Lucas Neill.

His shot looped off the Hammers captain and over goalkeeper Robert Green but McCartney headed off the line.

Bolton forced their way back into the reckoning with their forthright, direct style.

Gary Speed, back in the side and assured of his future at the club after Megson blocked a loan move to Sheffield United, fed off a knockdown but volleyed over the crossbar.

Danny Guthrie got on the end of a Davies header and struck the near post with his volley from just outside the area.

Nolan failed to purchase on an effort early in the second half, while Jaaskelainen was equal to a Solano volley when the midfielder did put his foot through the ball.

The Hammers had a penalty appeal waved away when O'Brien tussled with Bowyer. The feisty midfielder later picked up a booking for a hack.

Green then tipped over when Speed drilled a volley from the edge of the area but the Hammers goalkeeper then flapped at a corner but Davies could not direct his header on target.

Ricardo Gardner had to clear in the 65th minute when Luis Boa Morte latched onto a hopeful ball and took it around Jaaskelainen before pulling back, with Gardner getting ahead of Cole to head away from danger.

Cole had a close-range effort saved before he was substituted, while Davies clipped the bar from a Guthrie cross and Jonathan Spector hacked off the line in stoppage-time.

Then Nolan struck with seconds left after Lubomir Michalik flicked on a cross.